Unleash Your Potential: Grads lacking in corporate skills

Is higher education preparing college graduates to make it in today's tough job market?

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By Lenny Keitel

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By Lenny Keitel

Posted Nov. 26, 2012 at 2:00 AM

By Lenny Keitel

Posted Nov. 26, 2012 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Is higher education preparing college graduates to make it in today's tough job market?

The results of two recent studies raise serious doubt about whether grads are as ready to enter the corporate world as we may think they are. A piece in CBS Moneywatch referred to a Rutgers University study released in May that stated that "only 51 percent of students who graduated from a four-year college program in the past five years currently have full-time jobs."

The study also revealed that grads are insecure about the preparation they've received at college to enter a competitive workforce.

According to a piece in CNNMoney, grads are simply not as ready for the working world as expected. Global Strategy Group, a highly-regarded research firm, asked 500 senior managers in their study the simple question: "Are recent college graduates ready for the rigors of today's workforce"?

The majority, (nearly 70 percent) of senior executives stated that less than 50 percent of graduates entering their companies have the requisite skills to succeed in entry-level positions and that fewer than one-quarter (21 percent) of the grads recruited have the requisite skills to advance past entry-level jobs. According to this survey, college grads who ultimately secure a position fail to impress their managers. Clearly, these are not very encouraging statistics.

Owning a smartphone and gathering 5,000 followers on Twitter are not as relevant as a college grad might think. The Global Strategy Group survey reveals that business leaders believe the three most vital skills to have when entering the business sector are problem-solving (49 percent), collaboration (43 percent) and critical thinking (36 percent).

Trailing behind at the bottom of the list were technological and social media skills (5 percent). According to the survey, new grads fell way behind in each of these critical areas except being technological savvy and adept at social media — the least desired area.

Today's grads are so dependent on social media that their ability to develop well-articulated verbal and proficient writing skills have greatly diminished. These skills are absolutely mandatory in today's workplace, yet they are noticeably absent. The executives surveyed overwhelmingly believe that academia has failed to keep up with the increasing demands in the business world. About three-fourths of the executives polled blamed educators for the shortcomings of new grads.

Clearly, a solution to offset the disparity between higher education and the expectations of corporate America will not occur overnight. What can college students do now to help themselves? According to the Rutgers survey:

Pursue an internship. Students who completed at least one internship earned nearly 15 percent higher than the norm.

Consider a post-graduate degree. Only 23 percent of the grads surveyed believed they can have a successful career with just a bachelor's degree.

Be proactive and start seeking employment while still in school.

Remember, executives value candidates with problem-solving skills!

Lenny Keitel runs Hudson Valley Resumes (www.hudsonvalleyresumes.com), a resume writing service in Monroe. He can be reached at info@hudsonvalleyresumes.com, 782-6714 or 914-391-5300.